What is the difference between a gondola and a ski lift?
Okay, no more ‘I thinks.’ A gondola is a little enclosed capsule that takes you up the mountain. The design of the actual lift is like a high-speed quad, where the chairs are deposited off of the high-speed cable onto a slower cable so the people can get on and off. Gondolas usually have room for up to eight people, and there are slots where you slide your skis in on the outside of the doors as you are getting on. Since it is completely enclosed, it is often warmer than the outside air (Some even have vents for heaters) and you can take off gear without worrying about dropping it. They move even faster than a high-speed quad, and are usually used for long distance runs, like from the very bottom of the resort to the peak. Often, in the summer, they run for just for sightseeing. At the top of most gondolas I’ve been on, there is a little lookout and all those telescope-like things. They often have a midstation. At the end of the day, the lift attendents take them off the cables and put
